Straight Forward

More research on low-temperature alkaline hydrolysis is required to ensure it is safe for the public

Feb. 12, 2020 – In recent months, several columns and opinions have been written about a chemical form of human remains disposal.

Today, in my blog, I want to provide you with the basic facts about low-temperature alkaline hydrolysis (AH).

AH is a
process for the disposal of human remains using lye, heat and pressure. The
process is being marketed as a lower-cost alternative to the traditional
options of burial or cremation.

– This is
not cremation –

Unlike
cremation, AH is a chemical process that offers both families and businesses a
lower cost option to disposing of the remains of loved ones.

One thing AH
does have in common with cremation is the importance of how it is done.

In flame-based
cremation, the burning process temperature and duration effect the amount of
pollutants that are released into the air and environment.

In AH, how
the process is conducted and at what temperature also have a direct effect on
what is released into the environment. After the AH process is complete the dissolved
remains flow into the sewer system, where they are processed with all sewage
and eventually re-enter the environment.

– High-temp
vs low-temp AH –

The Bereavement
Authority of Ontario (BAO) has no issue with the high-temperature AH process.

There is
scientific consensus that high-temperature AH destroys human prions contained
in the effluent of this process. That’s a good thing. Prions are proteins that
can transmit neurodegenerative diseases, such as the rare and fatal Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease – a human version of mad-cow disease.

Public
Health Ontario reports that high-temperature AH is endorsed by the World Health
Organization and is recognized as “an acceptable method for the disinfection
and disposal of human remains.” Scientific studies show that the
high-temperature method eliminates infectious agents, such as prions.

But not
so for low-temperature AH.

There is no
scientific evidence that the low-temperature process destroys prions. Bottom
line – we can’t be sure low-temperature AH is safe.

Our position
at the BAO is simply that until we can be certain about the risks to human life,
we can not approve low-temperature AH.

As the
authority, it is our duty to take the time to determine whether low-temperature
AH is safe. The public should expect no less of us.

– Let’s
be sure –

More research
on low-temperature AH is required before we can be sure. The BAO must conduct a
thorough review of the low-temperature process. The time spent on this will be well
worth it.

We are
taking a reasonable, responsible and prudent approach for public safety. It’s
as straight forward as that.